Filters and matte box... any tips? at DVinfo.net

Jason Sovey · August 9th, 2007, 11:51 AM

I have a UV/haze that I keep in place at all times. I recently bought a grad ND. With the rotating outer ring, it's difficult to quickly change the lens without removing matte box.

Has anyone found an easy way to deal with filters without removing the matte box?

Thanks!

Bill Pryor · August 9th, 2007, 11:55 AM

The major reason for a matte box is to use filters that drop into the matte box slots quickly and easily, not threaded filters on the lens.

Jason Sovey · August 9th, 2007, 12:22 PM

Sorry, I should have said lens hood instead of matte box.

Bill Pryor · August 9th, 2007, 12:29 PM

Oh, OK. You have to take the lens hood off to change filters. At least I do.

Jose Ortiz · August 9th, 2007, 12:45 PM

I'm planing soon to buy a Matte Box for my A1 from B&H. I was wondering if those 4x4 filters and the Matte box are going to increase the Film look on my weddings. It's worth it? If do ,can you guys tell me wich two 4x4 filters should I buy to get that look? I usually buy from B& H but I'm open other options as long they increase my video film quality.

Jason Sovey · August 9th, 2007, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Pryor

Oh, OK. You have to take the lens hood off to change filters. At least I do.

That's what I've been doing. So far the best idea I've had to get around it, is to stack some haze filters, but I'd like to shoot through as little glass as possible.

I could try some sort of a spacer ring (basically a "filter" with no glass) to give me a little more room to work with. B&H doesn't appear to stock any. I'm sure someone has thought of it, so I assume this setup must create some other type of problem.

Bill Pryor · August 9th, 2007, 02:15 PM

You could do that, use a clear or UV filter, but the more you stack on the end of the lens, the greater your chance of having corner vignetting at wide angles. The lens hood twists off and on in a couple of seconds; I don't see why it's a problem.

Jason Sovey · August 9th, 2007, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Pryor

You could do that, use a clear or UV filter, but the more you stack on the end of the lens, the greater your chance of having corner vignetting at wide angles. The lens hood twists off and on in a couple of seconds; I don't see why it's a problem.

It's not a problem really, I'm just lazy sometimes. :-)

Seriously though, most of my shooting has been on mountain trails with some dynamic scenery. One shot down into a valley might be fine with the built in ND filter, but around the corner might be a cliff face where a ND grad really helps to keep the detail without overexposing the sky. On winding trails, my lighting conditions change frequently, so I have been removing the lens hood a lot, After doing this several times on a 10 mile hike, anything I can do to save time helps.

I'll seriously look into getting a matte box and filters. That's sounds like the easiest option.

Thanks for your help! Someday I'll get there...

Bill Pryor · August 9th, 2007, 07:29 PM

If you're hiking in the mountains, I think the last thing you need is a mattebox that increases weight and makes the camere more cumbersome. You might just leave the lens hood off.

An alternative would be to get one of those rubber collapsable lens hoods that screws into the lens but has its own threads for filters. You can mash it down flat and change a filter. However, you want to try to get one as big as possible because most of them will give you some corner vignetting at wide angles. I have an 82mm one I use on a 2/3" lens, which is 10mm at the wide end, which would probably fairly comparable to the XH A1's wide angle, and I have to be really careful to not get corner vignetting. I have one for my still camera, a Canon 20D, and it shows up really badly at full wide on the cheapo lens they give you with the camera. But if you can find a 72mm one that's big enough, that might solve your problem. Tiffen used to make them. Here's one I found easily: http://www.camerafilters.com/pages/lenshoods.aspx

Bill Pryor · August 9th, 2007, 07:41 PM

Hereyago. I even did the B&H search for you...since I'm sitting here with nothing to do:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...bber_Wide.html

Trent Humphrey · August 12th, 2007, 12:32 PM

If you are looking to get a pro looking/functioning mattebox look here. www.Cinetactics.com .....I bought mine for my vx2100 and just recently sold the vx and I am keeping the mattebox for when I go to order my xh a1 here in a few days. You dont need the hd mattebox and if you look at the page where it suggest the model for the xh a1 is says use the dv mattbox. You will need a step ring they sell. Total is 140....cheap!!!!! If you all want pictures wait about a week and half till I actually get my xh a1 and I will upload some shots. Im excited about the xh a1!!!

Jason Sovey · August 12th, 2007, 01:30 PM

Thanks Bill for the link! That does seem like the easiest solution for quick and frequent filter changes in the field.

Trent, I'll look into the matte box link you posted. I was recently at a car show where it would have come in handy.

August 9th, 2007, 11:51 AM	#1
Jason Sovey Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 81	Filters and matte box... any tips? I have a UV/haze that I keep in place at all times. I recently bought a grad ND. With the rotating outer ring, it's difficult to quickly change the lens without removing matte box. Has anyone found an easy way to deal with filters without removing the matte box? Thanks!

August 12th, 2007, 12:32 PM	#11
Trent Humphrey Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 41	cinetactics.... If you are looking to get a pro looking/functioning mattebox look here. www.Cinetactics.com .....I bought mine for my vx2100 and just recently sold the vx and I am keeping the mattebox for when I go to order my xh a1 here in a few days. You dont need the hd mattebox and if you look at the page where it suggest the model for the xh a1 is says use the dv mattbox. You will need a step ring they sell. Total is 140....cheap!!!!! If you all want pictures wait about a week and half till I actually get my xh a1 and I will upload some shots. Im excited about the xh a1!!!

August 9th, 2007, 11:55 AM	#2
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	The major reason for a matte box is to use filters that drop into the matte box slots quickly and easily, not threaded filters on the lens.

August 9th, 2007, 12:22 PM	#3
Jason Sovey Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 81	Sorry, I should have said lens hood instead of matte box.

August 9th, 2007, 12:29 PM	#4
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Oh, OK. You have to take the lens hood off to change filters. At least I do.

August 9th, 2007, 12:45 PM	#5
Jose Ortiz Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tampa Florida Posts: 347	I'm planing soon to buy a Matte Box for my A1 from B&H. I was wondering if those 4x4 filters and the Matte box are going to increase the Film look on my weddings. It's worth it? If do ,can you guys tell me wich two 4x4 filters should I buy to get that look? I usually buy from B& H but I'm open other options as long they increase my video film quality.

August 9th, 2007, 02:15 PM	#7
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	You could do that, use a clear or UV filter, but the more you stack on the end of the lens, the greater your chance of having corner vignetting at wide angles. The lens hood twists off and on in a couple of seconds; I don't see why it's a problem.

August 9th, 2007, 07:29 PM	#9
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	If you're hiking in the mountains, I think the last thing you need is a mattebox that increases weight and makes the camere more cumbersome. You might just leave the lens hood off. An alternative would be to get one of those rubber collapsable lens hoods that screws into the lens but has its own threads for filters. You can mash it down flat and change a filter. However, you want to try to get one as big as possible because most of them will give you some corner vignetting at wide angles. I have an 82mm one I use on a 2/3" lens, which is 10mm at the wide end, which would probably fairly comparable to the XH A1's wide angle, and I have to be really careful to not get corner vignetting. I have one for my still camera, a Canon 20D, and it shows up really badly at full wide on the cheapo lens they give you with the camera. But if you can find a 72mm one that's big enough, that might solve your problem. Tiffen used to make them. Here's one I found easily: http://www.camerafilters.com/pages/lenshoods.aspx

August 9th, 2007, 07:41 PM	#10
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Hereyago. I even did the B&H search for you...since I'm sitting here with nothing to do: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...bber_Wide.html

August 12th, 2007, 01:30 PM	#12
Jason Sovey Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 81	Thanks Bill for the link! That does seem like the easiest solution for quick and frequent filter changes in the field. Trent, I'll look into the matte box link you posted. I was recently at a car show where it would have come in handy.